POCD (Plan of Conservation & Development)
About the Plan of Conservation & Development (POCD)
Section 8-23 of the Connecticut General Statutes (CGS) requires each municipality - through its Planning Commission, or joint Planning & Zoning Commission - to prepare or amend and adopt a plan of conservation and development (POCD) at least once every ten years.
Ridgefield's current POCD is a result of extensive public engagement, analysis, and discussion from late 2018 through late 2019. After publishing a "final draft" and holding public hearings with the draft in hand, it was adopted in June 2020. See below for a link to the 2020 POCD doc. Unless the PZC determines it is necessary to amend or update earlier (which is possible), then the next POCD should be adopted in 2030.
In addition to being a general town-wide/inter-governmental guideline for both development and conservation priorities over a long period, there are a number of practical areas where the POCD matters:
- Special Permit Applications. When a Special Permit application is submitted to the PZC for review, one of the factors that shall [i.e., must] be taken into consideration is whether the proposal is consistent with the Plan of Conservation and Development - specifically if/how "the proposed use or activity facilitates achievement of one or more of the goals, objectives, policies, and recommendations of the Plan of Conservation and Development, as amended." (See our regulations, section 9.2.A.5.j.)
- Discretionary State Funding. As of July 1, 2016, any municipality that fails to adopt a POCD in accordance with CGS 8-23 shall be ineligible for discretionary state funding, unless such prohibition is expressly waived by the OPM Secretary.
POCD Document Library
Ridgefield's current POCD (2020-2030), as well as previous versions, are linked below.